Facts about Antibiotics

By: Ayana Walter
Submitted: 2009-10-22 16:02:33
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Bacteria are everywhere, including on the skin and in the digestive system of humans. While bacteria are critical to normal bodily functions, some types can cause illness. In humans, antibiotics are used to treat health conditions caused by bacteria, including ear and skin infections, food poisoning, pneumonia, meningitis and other serious illnesses. These are also used to treat or prevent it can complicate critical medical procedures including surgery, cancer therapy, and transplants.

Another example is staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that is the most common cause of staph , and that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, toxic shock, skin abscesses, and other serious and deadly medical conditions. In the United States, almost every strain of aurous is now resistant to the antibiotics oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin, and strains of the disease have begun developing resistance to newer drugs like methicillin and vancomycin. The threat of prolonged illness or death from this infection has increased as it has become more resistant and fewer drugs are able to effectively control or eliminate it.

Making strong antibiotic medicines such as penicillin or its derivatives, stress, illness and disease, food allergies and/or intolerances, wounds and surgery can all deplete our probiotic count. Children in particular on antibiotic drugs which are no longer as effective as they once were need their throughout the course of their medication or illness. It has also been well established by many top medical specialists that if all of our beneficial bacteria were to be destroyed, our bodies could be prone to severe disease, some even fatal.

Risk factors for skin fungal infections are listed below:

* Antibiotic Use: Antibiotics are used to treat various bacterial infections. These medications can decrease the number of helpful bacteria normally living inside the body. When their population is decreased, fungi get an opportunity to colonize.

* Use of Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation and a number of skin disorders. These drugs sometimes reduce our immune response and create favourable conditions for fungal growth.

Symptoms of Fungal Skin Infections:

Symptoms of skin fungus may vary with a causative agent. Fungal skin infections generally appear as a rash. Ringworm causes ring-shaped, red or pink, slightly itchy patches with a clear center. Jock itch appears as ring-like red rash around the groin area. It is in the form of small, painful, extremely itchy blisters.

Athlete’s foot appears as itchy, scaly rash between the toes. There may be mild irritation or cracking and peeling of the skin. Skin becomes sore and susceptible for bacterial infection. Scalp ringworm is highly contagious among children. Nail ringworm affects toenails and makes the nail appear dull and thickened. Infected part of nail may fall apart from rest of the nail. Candida infection typically occurs in moist and warm areas of the body such as skin folds and diaper areas. Superficial candidal skin infection appears as red, flat rash with scalloped, sharp edges. Small patches appearing like rash are known as satellite lesions. They can cause pain or itching. Sometimes, fungal infection on one body part can cause rash on another body part. This condition is known as an allergic reaction to fungus.

Article source: Expert Articles